In the past, the Siraya indigenous tribe called this place Tavocan ("land of hill and forest"). Tavakan was a village of about a thousand people; the name was also written Taffacan, Tavocan, Tavacang, and Davocan in Dutch records.[6] The village grew into the market-town of Twa-bak-kang (Chinese: 大目降; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tōa-ba̍k-kàng),[7] about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Sin-kang (modern-day Sinshih).
After 1627, the VOC sent missionaries into neighboring districts. In 1635, George Candidius, a Dutch pastor, advised Pieter Nuyts, the leader of the Dutch VOC in Taiwan, that the VOC would have to conquer the aborigines before they could be controlled. In 1636, eighteen tribal groups, including the inhabitants of Tavocan, submitted to Dutch rule.
Map of Sinhua (labeled as Shinka (Taimokuko)) (1944)
Since the early part of the 20th century, Sinhua has been an important fruit wholesaling center. Around 1920, dozens of baroque-influenced store buildings were constructed along what is now Jhongjheng Road. Most of these buildings survive in good condition, and the street, known as "Sinhua Old Street," has become a tourist attraction.
In 1945, Sinshih Township was part of Sinhua District.[3]
Map of Sinhua (labeled as Hsin-hua (Shinka) 新化) (1950)
^"District Office". Tainan City Government Global Website. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 24 July 2019. Sinhua District Office
^"Introducing Sinhua". SIN-HUA District Office, Tainan City. Retrieved 24 July 2019. Sinhua District in Tainan City was once called Davocan and was a part of the Singangshe Siraya settlement of the Pingpu People.
^ ab"About us INTRODUCING THE DISTRICT OFFICE". Sinshih District Office, Tainan City. Retrieved 25 July 2019. After the retrocession of Taiwan in 1945, the Nationalist (Guomindang) Government adjusted the administra- tive divisions, changing the Cho to Sian (counties), Ken to Cyu (districts), and Sho to Siang (towns). This was when Sinshih Township was created. The full administrative name of the place was Sinshih Township, Sinhua District, Tainan County.
^"2019 Tainan May Jam to take place at Hutoupi in SW Taiwan on May 4 - 5". Taiwan News. 2019-04-24. Retrieved 24 July 2019. The 2019 Tainan May Jam will take place at Hutoupi Scenic Area (虎頭埤風景區) in Sinhua (新化), Tainan City from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on May 4 – 5, and there will be 30 bands performing in the concert this year, Tainan's Tourism Bureau said on Tuesday.
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